👀 Eye Exams In The NICU 👁⠀⠀

❓Why are eye exams necessary? ⠀

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Premature babies are at risk for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) where it can cause abnormal development of the blood vessels in the retina of the eye. ⠀

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😥 Causes include prematurity, high oxygen support, and/or sudden change in pressure or volume. ⠀

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☹️ Risks can be visual impairment and severe cases lead to blindness. ⠀

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💉 Diagnostic tests include routine eye exams and depending on how premature the baby is or how severe the ROP is, exams can be weekly or every 2 weeks.⠀

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👩🏻‍⚕️ The role of the NICU nurse is to administer eye drops. 3-5 drops every 5 minutes to dilate and numb the eyes. Make sure to cover the eyes after the exam for 4-6 hours because of light sensitivity. Contain the patient with a swaddle blanket and provide a pacifier and sucrose to soothe the baby.